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minabear's review
5.0
"Lady of Fire" is one of my favorites. I fully admit that it has its flaws, especially toward the ends, but even so, I love it. It takes place in Normandy, not long after William the Bastard has conquered England. Eleonor of Nantes is a renowned beauty, hungered by many and bartered as a political pawn. William's son Henry desires her as his wife, but it's the man she believes to be her half-brother, Roger Fitz Hugh, for whom she's destined.
Roger knows Eleonor is not his sister and has always loved her. Eleonor doesn't know, yet she desires Roger. This fact may be off-putting to some. But knowing they're not siblings, it was easy for me to overlook this semi-incest.
For complete disclosure, let it be known that I love blond heroes. I married one in real life and adore them in fiction. Roger is one of the sweetest, kindest, most loving heroes I've ever read. His devotion to Eleonor is undeniable and he and Eleonor are meant to be. However... he is not the reason that I'm crazy about this book.
The villain Robert Talvas, Count of Belesme, with his black hair, green eyes, and evil, evil disposition positively steals the show. He is so hot that every scene with him singes the pages of this book. Robert is absolutely malevolent and beyond redemption. He coolly lies to priests and nuns, sleeps with his mother, rapes without remorse, and murders innocents. In the sequel [b:Fire and Steel|1537586|Fire and Steel (Fire, #2)|Anita Mills|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1273860591l/1537586._SY75_.jpg|1529730] Robert is so evil he tears a baby out of his mother's womb killing them both! Robert is the devil incarnate in this story but is based on a Medieval legend.
But there is more to Robert, whose obsession for the lady Eleonor drives the plot. His unwavering love and reverence for her are spell-binding and captivating. In a bodice ripper written ten years earlier, Robert may have even been the hero. Disturbingly, despite that he kidnaps and rapes Eleonor, I found myself hoping, "I know you love Roger, but Eleonor, just once submit to Robert!" That's a little sick, but that what's Belesme character made me feel. She never does give in and I think that is one of the reasons that the dark Lord Robert adores Eleonor so much: for her purity and her goodness. I am so glad Anita Mills never redeemed him and gave him a sequel to find love with another woman. In his heart, Robert was eternally faithful to Eleonor.
Robert does find a salvation of sorts in the sequel, which is an entertaining, if not as enjoyable, read.
For a writer to allow the villain to overshadow the protagonists may be a source of frustration to some readers, but Anita Mills does it so skillfully that I fell for it from beginning to end. To Robert's great unfortunate downfall, Eleonor and Roger are destined for each other and that's the way it should be.
Roger knows Eleonor is not his sister and has always loved her. Eleonor doesn't know, yet she desires Roger. This fact may be off-putting to some. But knowing they're not siblings, it was easy for me to overlook this semi-incest.
For complete disclosure, let it be known that I love blond heroes. I married one in real life and adore them in fiction. Roger is one of the sweetest, kindest, most loving heroes I've ever read. His devotion to Eleonor is undeniable and he and Eleonor are meant to be. However... he is not the reason that I'm crazy about this book.
The villain Robert Talvas, Count of Belesme, with his black hair, green eyes, and evil, evil disposition positively steals the show. He is so hot that every scene with him singes the pages of this book. Robert is absolutely malevolent and beyond redemption. He coolly lies to priests and nuns, sleeps with his mother, rapes without remorse, and murders innocents. In the sequel [b:Fire and Steel|1537586|Fire and Steel (Fire, #2)|Anita Mills|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1273860591l/1537586._SY75_.jpg|1529730] Robert is so evil he tears a baby out of his mother's womb killing them both! Robert is the devil incarnate in this story but is based on a Medieval legend.
But there is more to Robert, whose obsession for the lady Eleonor drives the plot. His unwavering love and reverence for her are spell-binding and captivating. In a bodice ripper written ten years earlier, Robert may have even been the hero. Disturbingly, despite that he kidnaps and rapes Eleonor, I found myself hoping, "I know you love Roger, but Eleonor, just once submit to Robert!" That's a little sick, but that what's Belesme character made me feel. She never does give in and I think that is one of the reasons that the dark Lord Robert adores Eleonor so much: for her purity and her goodness. I am so glad Anita Mills never redeemed him and gave him a sequel to find love with another woman. In his heart, Robert was eternally faithful to Eleonor.
Robert does find a salvation of sorts in the sequel, which is an entertaining, if not as enjoyable, read.
For a writer to allow the villain to overshadow the protagonists may be a source of frustration to some readers, but Anita Mills does it so skillfully that I fell for it from beginning to end. To Robert's great unfortunate downfall, Eleonor and Roger are destined for each other and that's the way it should be.
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